Jeep wants to rewire your sense of freedom — literally. The brand that built its reputation conquering muddy trails and war zones now wants to woo you with silent acceleration and zero emissions. The new all-electric Jeep Compass looks every bit the modern SUV adventurer, but once you get inside, that rugged charm starts to feel a little… fragile.
This is the third generation of the Jeep Compass, a name that’s come a long way since its debut in 2006. Once dismissed as the awkward cousin of the Wrangler, the Compass has quietly become one of Jeep’s global success stories, topping 2.5 million units sold worldwide.
But this latest version — built on Stellantis’ STLA Medium platform — shares more with the Opel Grandland and Peugeot E-3008 than with its trailblazing ancestors. The result is a Compass that feels like part-American explorer, part-Italian city slicker.
From the front, the Compass nails the Jeep look: bold stance, seven-slot grille, confidence for days. Spin it around, though, and the design inspiration seems to taper off. The rear feels more “generic crossover” than “American icon.”
And about that glowing rear logo — Jeep’s dive into the illuminated-badge trend might not win over everyone. It feels more novelty store than luxury SUV. But practicality improves: 550 liters of trunk space, expandable to 1,561 liters with the seats down, plus 34 liters of clever storage inside. Just don’t go looking for a frunk — there isn’t one.
If the exterior feels promising, the interior brings you back down to earth. The cabin leans heavily on hard plastics, and the design feels assembled by committee rather than crafted by passion. It’s a reminder that budget constraints are still very real at Stellantis.
The central touchscreen system is at least a bright spot — intuitive, well laid out, and quick to get used to. The performance is decent, even if the animations make it seem laggier than it really is. Physical buttons still exist (a small victory), though they too suffer from a slightly toy-like feel.
Right now, there’s just one version on offer: a 157 kW (about 213 horsepower) front-wheel-drive setup that gets from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds. More options are coming, including a 170 kW long-range variant and a 375 hp all-wheel-drive model that promises the kick many Jeep fans crave.
On the road, the new Compass is calm and composed. It’s not thrilling, but it’s confident — happily soaking up Sweden’s rougher backroads during testing. Jeep insists it’s “trail-ready,” and while it might handle the occasional gravel path just fine, few owners are likely to test that claim anywhere near the Rubicon Trail.
Pricing for Sweden is still under wraps, but here’s where things could get tricky. If it lands around the €50,000 mark like the Opel Grandland, it may struggle to compete with more refined rivals such as the Citroën C5 Aircross (€43,000). Those interior plastics will need some serious justification at a premium price.
Still, there’s undeniable appeal here. Among Jeep’s global lineup, the Compass stands out as one of the brand’s more balanced, city-friendly models — stylish, sensible, and unmistakably modern. It just needs a bit more polish (and perhaps a lower price) to fully win people over.
Jeep’s electric journey has officially begun. The question is, can it keep its soul in the process?
What works:
What doesn’t:
Can a front-wheel-drive EV still call itself a Jeep? The new Compass is about to find out.